River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-02-03

"Ihat Is Just ii, / groaned. 1T is
all so true.n
HE will think you observant, said
Nell, nibbling the sugar from her bis
cult with slow Cpicurean enjoyment.
''He will think, at all events, that
you are interested in him, said Lottie
cheerfullS
I'm him.--a man. groaned, for
girl who has tyrannized over eight adj
iniring brothers and has been treated
all her life with difference BY fond
father and uncles has an ungrateful
scorn for men. | had had no meek
mother, and aunts, and sisters TO teach
me humility as a becoming womanly
virtue.
Poor Cis-poor Cicely!' said the
girls. And Saturday is coming and
you will be forced to see him Poor,
poor Cicelyr'
Yes, Saturday was coming. Wednes-
day and Thursday and Friday / went
about with a constant consciousness of
Saturdays inevitable advance. Our
lecturer had stated that Saturday after
noon he would be pleased to gothrough
our papers with us TO discuss points Of
interest. explain difficulties. and re-
move possible misconceptions. We
were 10 90 to him singly was TO goalone
to the man who, had said, was shy of
me and thought of me rs girl and
could not forget that was a girl
whom | had called copper-colored,
whom | had said blushed. The
thought was terrible.
Saturday came. The girls were
cheerful, $50 first. Cis," they said
ego first and get it over
Yes, / will 90 first ] said. But
when he came | faltered and put off the
evil moment, and Claudia, Nell, and
Lottie all went in before me-
''IIe is not shy to-day reported Nell
on her return. I'll think, Cis, that per-
haps we were mistaken about him. Or,
perhaps he was under the impression
that we were learned girls; after our
papers and our chatter he knows us
better and thinks very little of us. He
is solemn-horribly solemn! o, he is
quite at his ease"
Nell had reported truly. He was
quite at his ease. He was sitting wait
ing at a table, which had pens, and ink,
and papers on it! there was no expect
ancy in his attitude; he seemed little
bored. indeed he sat with his back to-
ward the door. one elbow on the table,
his hand propping his chin. He rose
when he heard me, and looked at me
calmly enough as he shook hands
Miss ChryStal?N he said
Yes | said meekly.
He touched chair that stood be-
side his at the table, and sank down
with feeling of obedience. His face
was grave, his manner. as Nell had
aid severe; | wondsroL how | could
nave thought him nervous. He looked
rs though he had never blushed. He
seemed quite unaffected by the con
seriousness that his pupil was girl
He seated himself beside me and drew
a corrected exercise toward him,
This, think, is your paper, Miss
Chrystal?"
Yes | said in a small voice, /
hink so, Mr. Tudor
He was turning the pages slowly
and gravely, | sat looking down.
my hands folded meekly on the tabl
and did not see his face.
Your first answer isis made
quate."
The first part of Stubs is is very
difficult, said, venturing to look up.
There was strange, quick little
twinkle for moment in his eye as he
glanced at me, but his lips did not
smile.
lin the next question" he said slow
", ''you confuse-or seem to confuse
two things, the constitution and
assize of Clarendon slip, perhaps.
He was looking steadily and calmly
at me, waiting. For the first time in
my life | felt small, and young, and
meek. | forgot that | was 10, and no
longer schoo, -irl. | was over
whelmed with a sen e u my ignorance.
mo. il was not Slip | said.
Constitutional history is quite-quite
new to me.
$50 had gathered from yourpaper, "
he said quietly.
His very gravity and quietness
seemed like bitterest satire. He said
llt Ntlh ilOl gasp NY AiAtcAN iCAt -'t4'A
not follow my argument there. And l
had no theory could not follow my
own argument. He grew more grave,
and quiet, and slow. The lump in my
throat grew larger every moment. If |
had been brought up in q family of
girls should have burst into tears be-
fore him. | sat still and looked at my
brown fingers clasping one another,
and answered briefly.
At last he pushed back his chair a
little and gave me my paper folded.
you will have to read very steadily,
Miss Chrystal.
"Yes," | said, in small voice
For some MONTHS
Yes" | said again.
The rest of the class are far ahead
of you"
"Yes-yes-I know / said.
He seemed to have nothing more,
wholesomely humiliating, to say to me;
and | understood that the interview
might end. and rose to 90. He rose
too. Immediately. Most of our lecturer,
nodded at us and sat still Mr. Tudor
conceded something to my girlhood;
he stood when | stood, and remained
standing as he continued to speal to
me. He threw out crumb of praise.
Your style is clear" he said
when you deal with subjects within
your grasp-when you do not get out
of your depth-your style is clear
decidedly Not an altogether historical
style, but lucid"
felt that, on the whole, his blame
had been less humiliating than his
praise. He held the door open for me
and shook hands gravely with quiet
smile.
Good afternoon" he said.
Good afternoon | replied, and 1,
fled
The girls had invaded my study and
were lazily stretched on my bed and
window seat and rug, waiting for me.
well, they said.
| sat down beside Claudia on the
hearthrug and tore my corrected paper
into small atoms and burnt them. Il
hate himr' / said, poking the fire vigor-
ously and pushing the smouldering
paper into the flames-'.I hate him!
He thinks me conceited! He thinks
me horrid He tries TO be satirical be-
cause he thinks me pulled up. He
laughs at me- saw it in his eyes
more than onee-always time